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David Hale
Amelia Island, Florida – North Carolina Coach Bill Belichick said he had approached the attention surrounding his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, with his football team, but he said that media reaction and social media fervor is not a football problem.
“Really next to it,” said Belichick in an ACC Spring Meetings Interview on Tuesday. “It’s a personal relationship, and she has nothing to do with football.”
Last week, reports emerged that Hudson had been prohibited for Tar Heels football facilities, that the School refused categorically. UNC sports director Bubba Cunningham told ESPN on Tuesday that he had never had a push to keep Hudson away from the athletics department or installations.
“Bill was great to work with it,” said Cunningham. “He spoke of practicing like a pro and that he directs a professional organization that teaches students to be professional in all aspects of their lives. He is a very determined and professional individual, and that is how he behaves and the way he leads the program.”
Asked directly if he was concerned about distractions, Cunningham said: “Bill is an incredibly targeted person.”
The relationship between Belichick, 73, and Hudson, 24, had already drawn attention, but Hudson’s participation in the training of the personal brand of Belichick – including Interrupt an interview with CBS last month – put both in the headlines inside and outside the world of sport.
Hudson participated in the Miss Maine beauty contest last weekend, ending as the second finalist with Belichick present.
Belichick, who does not frequently use social media, said he had discussed recent attention to his personal life with his team and did not believe that it will be a distraction.
“I spoke to the players when we meet them,” said Belichick. “We want to make players can be the best and give them the best opportunity on and off the field.”
Belichick was headlining at this year’s ACC meeting, where other coaches said he was curious and professional during the meetings.
The six -time winner of the Super Bowl said that he had learned the main differences between college and professional game, but he said that his goal remained from North Carolina the “33rd NFL team” by implementing a professional model throughout the program.
“Everything we do is a professional model,” said Belichick. “Head coach, Managing Director and we want players to develop professionally in all aspects.”
Belichick has not made any UNC player available to the media since his arrival in Chapel Hill six months ago, but he said he was satisfied with the progress made by the team throughout the spring.
As for what would determine the success of his first college season, Belichick said he was not interested in defining specific expectations.
“Try to stack the good days together,” said Belichick. “Good day, come back, build higher the next day. It’s not about knowing where we are going to be months or weeks.”
Andrea Adelson d’Espn contributed to this report.
